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On The Hill: Senators Thwart Attack on Overtime, but Battle Not Over
A September vote in the U.S. Senate dealt a strong blow to the Bush administration's efforts to strip millions of workers of overtime rights, but the legislative battle to save overtime is far from over.
The Senate voted 54-45 to overrule the Department of Labor's proposed regulations via an amendment to the $137.6 billion appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Education. Six Republican senators joined all Democrats except Zell Miller of Georgia in voting for the amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
The issue now goes to a Senate-House conference committee, although a timeline hadn't been set as the CWA News went to press. The House, by just three votes - 213-210 - rejected the same amendment in July. The Bush administration has threatened to veto the spending bill if the overtime amendment is attached.
"The Senate showed that it won't be bullied by the White House, which is so eager to hand over workers' overtime pay to corporate America that the president is threatening to veto a critical spending package," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "We urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and put an end to this disgraceful attack on the 40-hour workweek and workers' overtime pay."
The six Republicans who supported workers in the vote were Alaska's Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter (Pa.), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine). Sen. Gordon Smith (Ore.) was not present due to a death in his immediate family.
"We strongly commend the six Republicans who broke ranks with the administration for having the courage to do the right thing, in the face of considerable lobbying by the White House," Bahr said.
CWA has been a leader in the overtime fight, with legislative staff holding meetings with many members of Congress, CWA chief lobbyist Lou Gerber said. He noted that CWA also serves on the AFL-CIO's legislative task force on the Fair Labor Standards Act, the 1938 law protecting workers that the Labor Department is attempting to rewrite in favor of corporate rights.
Bahr said it's imperative for CWA members and all working families to make their voices heard on overtime right away, urging all members to write to their representatives in the U.S. House. A letter, which workers can send as is or edit with personal appeals, is available on the AFL-CIO website. Go to www.aflcio.org and click on "Protect Overtime Pay" under "Take Action."
The Senate voted 54-45 to overrule the Department of Labor's proposed regulations via an amendment to the $137.6 billion appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Education. Six Republican senators joined all Democrats except Zell Miller of Georgia in voting for the amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
The issue now goes to a Senate-House conference committee, although a timeline hadn't been set as the CWA News went to press. The House, by just three votes - 213-210 - rejected the same amendment in July. The Bush administration has threatened to veto the spending bill if the overtime amendment is attached.
"The Senate showed that it won't be bullied by the White House, which is so eager to hand over workers' overtime pay to corporate America that the president is threatening to veto a critical spending package," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "We urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and put an end to this disgraceful attack on the 40-hour workweek and workers' overtime pay."
The six Republicans who supported workers in the vote were Alaska's Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter (Pa.), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine). Sen. Gordon Smith (Ore.) was not present due to a death in his immediate family.
"We strongly commend the six Republicans who broke ranks with the administration for having the courage to do the right thing, in the face of considerable lobbying by the White House," Bahr said.
CWA has been a leader in the overtime fight, with legislative staff holding meetings with many members of Congress, CWA chief lobbyist Lou Gerber said. He noted that CWA also serves on the AFL-CIO's legislative task force on the Fair Labor Standards Act, the 1938 law protecting workers that the Labor Department is attempting to rewrite in favor of corporate rights.
Bahr said it's imperative for CWA members and all working families to make their voices heard on overtime right away, urging all members to write to their representatives in the U.S. House. A letter, which workers can send as is or edit with personal appeals, is available on the AFL-CIO website. Go to www.aflcio.org and click on "Protect Overtime Pay" under "Take Action."